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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This superb piece of Gilbert and Sullivan high jinks comes from their operetta Ruddigore, in which a family of aristocratic ghosts holds sway over the Cornish fishing village of Rederring. Why doesn't Robin Oakapple want to become Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd? Well, the answer lies in the main website in due course! This is a wonderful baritone solo, sung by Sir Roderic Murgatroyd (ghost of the twenty-first Baronet) (and the chaps in the chorus have a bit of fun also!). However, don't feel you have to leave it to the baritone and lads - have a go if you feel like it . . .!

The Ghosts' High Noon

Solo:- When the night wind howls
In the chimney cowls,
And the bat in the moonlight flies,
And inky clouds, like funeral shrouds,
Sail over the midnight skies - 
When the footpads quail at the night-bird's wail,
And black dogs bay at the moon,
Then is the spectre's holiday - 
Then is the ghosts' high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha!
Solo:- For then is the ghosts' high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha! High noo oo oo oo oon!
Then is the ghosts' high noon!

Solo:-  As the sob of the breeze
Sweeps over the trees
And the mists lie low on the fen,
From grey tomb-stones are gathered the bones
That once were women and men,
And away they go, with a mop and a mow,
To the revel that ends too soon,
For cock crow limits our holiday - 
The dead of the night's high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha!
Solo:- The dead of the night's high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha! High noo oo oo oo oon!
The dead of the night's high noon!

And then each ghost
With his ladye toast
To their church yard beds take flight,
With a kiss, perhaps, on her lantern chaps,
And a grisly grim, "good night!"
Till the welcome knell of the midnight bell
Rings forth its jolliest tune,
And ushers in our next high holiday - 
The dead of the night's high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha!
Solo:- The dead of the night's high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha! High noo oo oo oo oon!
The dead of the night's high noon!
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

With apologies to Sir Arthur Sullivan for adding a few extra MusicSmiles embellishments! Plenty of scope for imagery here, in William's words and Arthur's music. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did . . .

In the meantime for our next visit, shall we Pop in Vienna . . .?

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